GANT RELOAD: Week of May 26

The GantDaily.com weekly reload gives readers a look back upon the most noteworthy stories of their work week. It contains the big headlines, as well as a few stories you might have missed. It might even include a story or two of the lighter side.

The GantDaily.com reload will be posted each weekend for your perusal. For most part, the reload will be filled with local headlines, but every now and again, a state, world or national story will make the list.

KARTHAUS – The body of a missing boater was recovered Sunday near Market Street in Karthaus.

Officials have reported to WJAC-TV News that someone spotted the body near the water at the boat launch area in Karthaus. Officials have confirmed it was the body of a boater who was reported missing just over one week ago.

CLEARFIELD – A DuBois man found guilty of taking funds intended for a construction project was sentenced in Clearfield County Court.

Keith Conrad, 51, 203 N. Fourth St., DuBois, was found guilty of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds after a trial in April. Judge Paul E. Cherry sentenced him to six months to one year in jail and two years consecutive probation. He was fined $500 plus costs. He must pay restitution, totaling more than $27,400.

Conrad was hired to build a home in Treasure Lake by Ronald Ferry in 2009. More than $28,000 intended for a geothermal heating and cooling unit for the home was never given to the company that provided and installed the unit, according to testimony at the trial.

SHANKSVILLE – In an ongoing partnership between the National Park Service (NPS) and Penn State DuBois, students, faculty and staff are helping a national memorial take root.

Recently 12 students from the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology Program served as team leaders for a full weekend of tree planting at the site where Flight 93 crashed on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, in Shanksville.

Joined by faculty and staff, the students used their expertise in environmental stewardship to lead dozens of other volunteers during Plant a Tree at Flight 93, a project intended to reforest a portion of the site that makes up the Flight 93 Memorial.

CLEARFIELD – The case against a DuBois woman who was found guilty of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence in March was back in Clearfield County Court.

Kathryn Bembenic, 31, 118 Wilson Ave., DuBois, was also found guilty of DUI and recklessly endangering another person after a trial. In April, she was sentenced by Judge Paul E. Cherry to 11.5 months to two years less one day in the county jail and five years consecutive probation for the aggravated assault charge and to a consecutive period of 72 hours to six months in jail for the DUI charge.

DUBOIS – At Tuesday night’s meeting, members of DuBois City Council voted to amend its reading of Council Bill 1892, which, if given final approval, would prohibit the construction of disposal injection wells, seismographic surveying/seismic testing and the commercial extraction of natural gas through horizontal drilling in all of the DuBois residential and office zoning districts.

Council members approved amending Council Bill 1892 by a 3-1 vote. Council member Randy Schmidt opposed amending the same. Council member Jim Aughenbaugh was excused from the meeting.

READING – Penelec utility customers will see their bills rise by an average of 12 percent due to a rate hike that takes effect Sunday.

The Altoona Mirror reported Wednesday the Reading-based utility is raising its generation rate about 20 percent, from 7.73 cent to 9.28 cents per kilowatt hour.

Scott Surgeoner, a spokesman for Penelec’s parent company, FirstEnergy, said that means the average residential customer who uses 750 kilowatt hours per month will see their bill rise from $95.60 to $107.19.

DUBOIS – The DuBois Child and Family Center, a Keystone STARS Star 4 childcare and pre-school in Clearfield County operated by Cen-Clear Child Services Inc., was awarded the “Bright Star” Award for 2013-14 in a ceremony at the center on Tuesday.

Under the daily supervision of Kylie Jones, and supported by a team of center staff, supervisors and administrators, the facility was nominated for having safe places to live and learn, with access to health care, adequate clothing and nutritious food.

CLEARFIELD – A Curwensville man accused of trying to rob a local pharmacy waived his right to a preliminary hearing during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.

David Peter Bracken Jr., 28, of Curwensville has been charged with robbery; terroristic threats; possession of instruments of crime; simple assault; disorderly conduct; and criminal attempt/theft by unlawful taking. He’s currently incarcerated at the CCJ in lieu of $50,000 bail.

The charges against Bracken stem from a reported robbery incident that occurred at City Drug in Curwensville Borough. Bracken allegedly tried to commit the robbery at approximately 6:46 p.m. Sept. 30, 2013, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

DUBOIS – Some students at Penn State DuBois have helped to clean up campus where recycling and environmental efforts are concerned, all while gaining valuable real-world experience to bolster their education.

Students in Marketing 342 offered their services to create marketing plans for their class projects recently, and the campus Green Team took them up on that offer.

The challenge was to create a marketing plan that would help to increase the rate of recycling on campus. Specifically, members of the Green Team who lead green and sustainable initiatives on campus were interested in promoting the use of recycling bins.

CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Borough Council held a public hearing last night regarding a liquor license transfer for Buck’s Pizza. A special meeting followed to vote on the license transfer, which received approval.

First to speak was Josh Benton, Buck’s Pizza owner, saying he looked forward to being a part of the community. Lance Benton, a principal of Buck’s Pizza and in whose name the license transfer is, verified application details.

Attorney Chris Pentz, representing borough businesses that had previously petitioned council opposing the license transfer, said he interprets the state Liquor Control Board statute as promoting municipalities to develop their own ordinances for handling liquor license applications. He presented an ordinance from State College Borough for council’s review.

PHILIPSBURG – U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) recently visited Windy Hill Village in Philipsburg to discuss current federal legislation issues impacting seniors and to participate in a question-and-answer session with residents.

Thompson’s visit was a result of conversations he and his staff had with Windy Hill Village Executive Director Chad Evans during the 2014 LeadingAge PEAK Leadership Summit held March 17-19 in Washington, D.C.

The summit provides an opportunity for chief executive officers and leaders of aging services organizations to network and learn best practices from their peers.